Foodborne Illness

In order to understand foodborne illnesses There are four types of pathogens microorganisms that they can contaminate the food and cause illness, than there is different conditions affect the growth of this foodborne harmful microorganisms we also need to know and understand the difference the different types of food that support the growth of pathogens we need to be able to distinguish between foodborne infections intoxications and toxin mediated infections than there is bacteria viruses parasites and fungi and there are different types of biological chemical and physical contaminants and we have to learn about food allergies. To really understand foodborne illness first we need to learn about microorganisms that cause them and

In a multistate outbreak of salmonella linked to peanut butter, a total of 42 persons were infected.10 Investigators in this case were able to discover that the contaminated food item was

Schwan’s Sales Enterprise had the largest foodborne illness outbreak in history in Marshall, Minnesota around 1994 (Rubenstein, 1998). Cliff Viessman, a tanker truck operator transported a shipment of raw eggs that may have been infected with salmonella bacteria. The suspected contamination was unknown to Viessman’s employees. A foodborne illness is an infection or irritation of the gastrointestinal that caused by food or beverages that contain harmful bacteria, parasites, viruses, or chemicals. The company truck was parked and pressure washed to eliminate the bacteria. The next assignment was to transport ice cream mix to the Schwan’s plant (Rubenstein, 1998). Schwan’s company heard about the bacteria that may have affected their product and

Salmonella is a bacterial disease that occurs in the intestines, the signs and symptoms can be; fever, or other illnesses such as diarrhea and abdominal cramps. People typically get salmonella from contaminated foods, which seems to occur frequently from poultry and eggs (Nordqvist, 2016). This is just a basic look at salmonella though, next we need to look at the epidemiologic triad (host, agent, and environment) and see how each plays a role in a salmonella outbreak.

Very simple steps can be taken in order to prevent the virus, or stop it from spreading. Hand washing with hot soapy water is a must, especially if you believe you may have handled an infected surface. Most importantly, if you are not feeling well or believe you may have been infected, avoid preparing food for others and always make sure to stay home when you are sick to avoid giving it to others.

Foodborne illness, or food poisoning, happens everyday in the U.S. and it is estimated that 48 million people are affected by it every year. Of these 48 million, 128,000 end up in the hospital and 3000 of them die from foodborne pathogens (Tucker, 2014). Foodborne illnesses can be caused by biological, chemical, or physical contaminants. The biological contaminants consist of bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. Chemical contaminants are pesticides, cleaning supplies, and toxic chemicals. Physical contaminations are dirt, glass, wood, splinters, stones, hair, jewelry, and metal shavings (Tucker, 2014). Salmonella, a bacterium, has been the most common reported cause of food poisoning. Salmonella is most commonly exposed to humans through animal feces and it is usually from animals that give us beef, poultry, and dairy products. People who do not wash their hands after being around animals can also transmit salmonella into our food. The symptoms of Salmonella are abdominal cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and fever (Tucker, 2014). The symptoms will usually resolve on their own in healthy people but may become life threatening in those with compromised immune systems. In order to prevent Salmonellosis, raw eggs should be avoided, as well as undercooked meat, shellfish, and unpasteurized milk and juice (Tucker, 2014). It is also important to always practice hand hygiene before handling any uncooked food products. Escherichia Coli, otherwise known as E. coli, is

A report done by the CDC indicates that within the year of 2013, there have been two reported cases of E. coli. In one case, and investigation done by local, state and federal officials revealed that two consumptions of ready to eat salads produced by Glass Onion Catering and sold at Trader Joe’s had a total of 33 people infected with an outbreak strain of STEC O157:H7. Of the 33 there was 1 person in Arizona, 28 in California, 1 in Texas and 3 in

A) Emerging Infectious Diseases reported an example of a real life outbreak of community-acquired foodborne illness caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in January 2002, from the Tennessee Department of Health, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. A family purchased a dinner of shredded barbeque pork and coleslaw from a convenience and delicatessen market. The pork was reheated in the home microwave, and three adults ate the food after it was bought. Three to four hours after eating the meal, the three adults who had not eaten another common meal together in the preceding week had nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps. The two children who did not eat the food did not become sick. Two of the three adults were hospitalized for evaluation, and then they were treated and released.

Norovirus and Salmonella are the two most common pathogens, resulting in the most hospitalizations and deaths. Norovirus is a pathogen that infects the stomach and intestines by causing inflammation. Symptoms of norovirus include; nausea/vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain leading to dehydration causing one to urinate more frequently and feel dizzy while standing up. In order to avoid contracting the Norovirus, the CDC recommends thoroughly washing fruits, vegetables and cooking seafood to appropriate temperatures, which can survive up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/preventing-infection.html). Salmonella affects the gastrointestinal tract when bacteria is swallowed, mainly coming from raw food products; eggs,

Exposure to salmonella is not taken lightly, as it can prove deadly and lead to contact with several related diseases such as salmonellosis. Salmonellosis can manifest with symptoms including diarrhea, severe cramping, and

Selective use of antibiotics to control outbreaks 
Note: Routine use of oral and systemic antibiotics was considered but not recommended.

An individual must be sure to wash their hands after expose to public places and avoid contacts with the mouth, eyes, and nose as these areas are prone to possible exposure of the virus. Before preparing a meal, individuals must wash their hands to expel any possible viral particles as poor sanitation leads to infection.

Prevention: Cook foods to a proper temperature, practice good personal hygiene, wash hands and fingernails

According to the CDC, there are several ways to prevent the spread of C. hominis. Practicing good hygiene is of utmost importance. Washing hands with soap and warm water frequently is one of the best ways to prevent infection. Infected children should be kept home from daycare and school to prevent infection from spreading to their peers. Persons using pools and other public water sources should shower before entering the water and ensure children are clean before entering the water. Minimizing contact with animal feces by wearing protective gloves during clean up and disposal and washing hands after contact.

To avoid getting this disease, good hand washing is a must. Wash all fruits and vegetables before eating. When traveling, drink only bottled water. Be aware of what countries are infected with this disease. Children are at higher risks of getting infected because they play more often in the dirt. This disease can stop the growth of children. Children ages 2 to 10 are most likely to get